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42 Campbell L. Rev. 335 (2020)
Defamation in the Age of Social Media: Why North Carolina's 'Micro-Influencers' Should Be Classified as Limited Purpose Public Figures

handle is hein.journals/camplr42 and id is 355 raw text is: Defamation in the Age of Social Media: Why North Carolina's Micro-influencers Should be Classified as Limited Purpose Public Figures ABSTRACT The advent ofsocial media has changed the way society communicates and the way ideas are spread. These new platforms for speech have inevitably pushed the boundaries of the law, particularly in the area of defamation. Social media has created new types of speakers, new publication methods, and easier ways for people to defame each other. This Comment examines existing constitutional and North Carolina-specific defamation law, explains how defamation law has evolved in the 21 century, provides a focused description of two types of social media users in 2020, and proposes a way for North Carolina courts to adapt current standards to these new speakers in a way that continues to protect speech. ABSTRACT ........................................................... 335 INTRODUCTION.................................................. 336 I. A BRIEF HISTORY OF DEFAMATION.................. ............ 337 A. Common Law Standards................... ........ 337 1. Constitutional Standards ........................ 337 2. North Carolina Standards ....................... 341 II. ANALYSIS OF DEFAMATION AS IT APPLIES TO MICRO-INFLUENCERS IN NORTH CAROLINA ...................................... ....... 344 A. Evolution ofDefamation in the 21s Century in North Carolina ........................... ...... 344 B. Types of Social Media Users in 2020 ......... .................. 345 1. Influencers .................................. 346 2. Trolls ............................................ 348 C. Classifying North Carolina Micro-influencers in Defamation Cases in 2019. .................................. 350 1. How North Carolina Courts Have Previously Determined Limited Purpose Public Figures .................. 354 D. Protecting Opinions on Social Media .................... 357 CONCLUSION .................................................... 358 335

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